Let's be honest: When we think of Thanksgiving dinner, we tend to think of copious amounts of butter in the stuffing and mashed potatoes. Loads of brown sugar (and maybe even marshmallows) on top of those baked sweet potatoes! Not to mention, the pie. All the PIE.
But believe it or not, there are ways to sneak "superfoods" — aka healthy foods that are jam-packed with antioxidants, vitamins, protein, fiber, etc. — into some of your favorite dishes, or even make delicious Thanksgiving dinner recipes in which superfoods are the star.
Check out 10 of the most delicious we could come up with, and then tell us: Which of these would you try as part of your Turkey Day menu?
Images via © iStock.com/Mypurgatoryyears & © iStock.com/DebbiSmirnoff
Cranberry Pomegranate Relish
Add unique texture and TONS of antioxidants (more than green tea!) to your plain 'ol cranberry sauce by including pomegranate juice and seeds.
Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
The typical pumpkin pie recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk, but by using coconut milk instead, you'll sneak a verified superfood in there — and skirt the dairy (a plus in case you have any lactose-sensitive sensitive guests!). The saturated fat in coconut milk is said to increase your metabolism and lower your cholesterol.
More from The Stir: 10 Delicious Pumpkin Recipes You Won't Want to Pass Up (PHOTOS)
Beet and Goat Cheese Arugula Salad
Phytonutrient-rich beets aren't for everyone, but mix 'em up in a colorful salad with goat cheese and arugula (which is a superfood itself, known for its anti-cancer properties!), and your guests may be surprised by how much they're digging them.
Cannonau Red Wine Sangria
Thanks to higher concentrations of antioxidant resveratrol, certain wines from places like Sardinia definitely earn the right to be called super! Consider buying a bottle of Cannonau — which has two or three times the level of flavonoids as other wines — for a healthier Thanksgiving sangria!
Kale Quinoa Salad
It may sound like the crunchiest, hippiest recipe in all the land, but kale quinoa salad looks so colorful and festive, it belongs on the holiday table! Plus, if you have anyone in attendance who is gluten-free (and Paleo if you omit the cheese!), it's a perfect side dish for them.
Chocolate Chia Cookies
Who says pumpkin or pie for that matter are the be all and end all of Thanksgiving desserts? Everyone loves chocolate, and if you throw some chia seeds into double-chocolate chip cookies, you'll get a wallop of fiber, omega-3s, and protein that will boost your digestive powers and stave off high cholesterol. Talk about sweet!
Mashed Parsnips
Instead of regular mashed potatoes, why not try pureeing parsnips, which have high levels of potassium, are low-cal, and dole out twice as much filling fiber and twice as much vitamin C as the starchy standby? Yowza!
Braised Greens with Tomatoes
Add more superfood dark leafy greens to the holiday table with this braised greens with tomatoes recipe that features chard, mustard greens, kale, or young collards.
Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Okay, so desserts rarely deserve to be called superfoods, but these sweet potato cupcakes do pack a punch of beta-carotene, antioxidants, and fiber!
Green Beans with Roasted Red Peppers and Almonds
Skip the green bean casserole! Serve 'em up tossed with almonds and roasted red peppers instead. You'll get some serious crunch from fiber and calcium-packed nuts and tons of vitamin C and carotenoids from the red peppers. That's a dish that's a triple threat as far as superfoods go!
